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Catholicism

Definition

Catholicism is a branch of Christianity led by the Pope based in Vatican City. It's characterized by its sacraments, liturgical worship services, and adherence to papal authority.

Analogy

Imagine Catholicism as a big tree with deep roots (the Apostolic Tradition), a strong trunk (the Church hierarchy with Pope at top), branches representing different rites within Catholicism (like Roman or Byzantine), and leaves symbolizing individual believers all over world.

Related terms

Protestant Reformation: A major 16th century European movement aimed initially at reforming the beliefs and practices of the Roman Catholic Church but resulted in establishing Protestant churches separate from it. It’s like a spin-off series from an original show due to creative differences among cast members.

Sacraments: Sacred rituals of the Catholic Church, such as baptism and communion. They're like milestones or achievements in a video game that mark progress in a player's spiritual journey.

Papal Authority: The Pope's supreme power and jurisdiction over the Catholic Church. It’s like the CEO of a company who has final say on major decisions.